Dr. Deborah S. Wheeler, a native of Upper St. Clair (PA), came to the School District of Upper Dublin following a long career as a teacher and administrator in Connecticut. Her last position there was as Superintendent of Schools in the Litchfield Public Schools.

A graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Wheeler taught History and Social Studies at Chartiers Valley High School in the Pittsburgh area. While in Connecticut, Dr. Wheeler added a teaching endorsement in Special Education and taught in the on-grounds schools of a state psychiatric hospital for adolescents, in a specialized school for young children who were placed out of their public school, and in a small public elementary school in Regional School District No. 6, located in northwest Connecticut. During that time she earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and an administration endorsement, both at Southern Connecticut State University.

In 1999, Dr. Wheeler began her administrative career, serving for eight years as the Director of Special Education for the Wolcott Public Schools and again in Regional School District No. 6. After earning her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and superintendent certification from the University of Hartford, she became the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel for the Brookfield Public Schools, a district very similar in demographics to Upper Dublin. In 2009 Dr. Wheeler was named Superintendent of Schools in Litchfield, Connecticut.

During her career, Dr. Wheeler earned several awards of note, including Teacher of the Year for the Curtis School in Meriden (CT), the Reich Award for Excellence, and the Regents Honor Award for Graduate Students, both at the University of Hartford. Her research interest in developing the professional practice of educators led to her work as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department of Quinnipiac University.

Dr. Wheeler has published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Special Education Leadership, and has given refereed presentations at national, regional and state research conferences as well as local professional presentations. In addition, she has served on the Boards of Directors for the Connecticut Association for Public School Superintendents, the Litchfield Hills Food Systems, and the Northwest CT Economic Development Council, and as president of the Litchfield County Superintendents’ Association.

Dr. Wheeler also has been civically active in Rotary International and by serving as the public education liaison for her local chapter. She also served with the Friends of the Terryville Library, and on the Board of Education in Plymouth, Connecticut.

Dear Parents/Guardians and Community Members, I would like to share a brief update as we enter into our winter recess. As the season of Winter Concerts draws to a close may I again express my pride in our students and our faculty for the very high quality of our music program throughout the District? Our […]